Yerevan, Armenia ? Junior Achievement of Armenia,within the framework of the USAID-funded ?Entrepreneurial and Civic Activism ofYoung People of Armenia? program, awarded small grants to eleven studentcompanies to implement social projects in their communities. The winning grants,selected from ten submissions, will be used to create a playground in Azatanivillage (Shirak province), establish a library in Nor Geghi (Kotayq province)and build a bus stop in Voskehat (Armavir province). The awards ceremony, heldon March 12 in JA Armenia?s office, was attended by supporters from thebusiness community, representatives of USAID, and the Republican Union ofEmployers of Armenia.
Corporatesocial responsibility is a relatively new concept in the Armenian businesscommunity and Junior Achievement of Armenia is a pioneer in taking the idea tothe schools. As of April 2011, 1500 students from 100 Armenian high schools havebeen involved in the Entrepreneurialand Civic Activism program, which seeks toenhance the economic and business awareness of Armenian youth. JuniorAchievement of Armenia acquaints students with current international businesspractices, ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues, and helpsunleash their business potential. ?The programteaches young Armenians to become active citizens who contribute to the welfare of their communities,? says Armine K. Hovannisian, ExecutiveDirector of Junior Achievement.
As part oftheir business activities, the students establish and run ?mini-companies,?imitating real business operations. They elect their managers, conduct marketresearch, write business plans, manufacture a product or offer a service, anddesign advertising and sales strategies. As part of their learning experienceand CSR practice, they also allocate a portion of their profits to carry out community-orientedprojects. Students receiveguidance about their businesses from JAA teachers as well as consultants from companiessuch as VivaCell-MTS, Mary Kay, Megerian Carpet, Armenia Marriott Hotel, HSBC Bank,Kanaka Construction, the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, and theRepublican Union of Employers of Armenia.
Website: http://www.jaarmenia.org/
Contact:
First Yekmalyan Street
Yerevan, 0002
Tel: (37410) 53 51 67
Fax: (37410) 53 86 72
Executive Director: Armine Hovannisian
Contact Person: Anahit Manukyan
About the Junior Achievement of Armenia
Guided by our basic belief in integrity and excellence, Junior Achievement of Armenia embraces an active approach to transforming the lives of Armenia?s youth.
Our vision is shaped by our primary objective:
To educate and inspire young people to value free enterprise and civil society.
From this, we define our mission:
Empowering young Armenians with the skills and knowledge to compete and succeed in tomorrow?s world.
This is the challenge that JAA takes on with creativity, innovation and action. With 170,000 students participating in our educational programs annually, the impact of our programs extends far beyond Armenia?s borders. Today we are playing a vital role in promoting global cooperation and peace.
